Shillong Sept 10: The nomination papers of the two candidates contesting the election to the post of Speaker were found valid.

The two candidates who filed their nominations on Tuesday include former Minister and three-time MLA from Mairang constituency, Metbah Lyngdoh and two-time Congress MLA, Winnerson D. Sangma.

Lyngdoh resigned as minister on Tuesday prior to filing of nomination papers. He is the consensus candidate of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

Winnerson is the candidate of the opposition Congress.

Both the candidates filed their nominations before the Assembly’s Commissioner and Secretary, Andrew Simons.

Simons said that the nomination papers of both the candidates were found valid during the scrutiny.

The election of new Speaker will be held on the last day of the Assembly’s autumn session, on September 13.

Lyngdoh was confident that with the support of his colleagues in the MDA government, he will win the election.

The MDA government has a total of 40 MLAs.

The Opposition has only 19 MLAs.